Teachers strike: Why I am protesting

Teachers rallied in Lyric Square before joining a march in central London as teachers walk out of at least 39 schools.

Dennis Charman, chairman of Hammersmith and Fulham's branch of the National Union of Teachers, said this is the biggest strike to hit the borough with the number of schools completely closed jumping from just three in 2011 to 21 today.

Another 18 were partially closed while just 17 remained open as usual.

The one-day London-wide strike was organised by the NUT and National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers.

Teachers are protesting against:

* Paying larger pension contributions

* Proposals for performance-related pay

* Reams of paperwork leading to a ‘box-ticking’ culture

Mr Charman said: "There's been a huge rise in the number of schools closed outright compared to the last London strike in 2011 from three in Hammersmith and Fulham to at least 20.

"Schools are joining in who have not participated in previous strikes. The issues are complex but the solution is simple - it is time for Michael Gove to start listening to teachers."

Primary school teacher Lee Duffy explains why he is striking

Name: Lee Duffy

Age: 28

Subject: Primary

Years teaching: Six

Union: NUT representative

Why are you striking?

It feels like the government is not taking on board the thoughts and concerns of teachers. I hope the strike will make the government stand up and realise the strength of feeling against the changes.

Even in the six years I’ve been teaching, my workloads have increased immensely in terms of bureaucracy and the endless paperwork. You are doing it to satisfy outside agencies like Ofsted, not to impact on the classroom. It takes away from your ultimate responsibilities of teaching and learning.

Since I started, I’m paying double into my pension.

I believe performance-related pay will result in schools competing for the best teachers. Some schools won’t be able to afford certain teachers and some will use it as an opportunity to reduce staff. Michael Gove says it is about rewarding high-performing teachers, but I’m very sceptical about that.

This is a job I want to do because it’s an important job for society, educating the next generation and supporting the society as a whole. I could go off and get a job in another profession and earn a lot more but morally, it’s a job I really value.

We want the government to see the feeling from teachers and have a dialogue with us. We’re not unreasonable, we know standards need to be raised with priorities in reading and maths.

As teachers we encourage the best out of our children but Michael Gove thinks the best way to teach adults is to totally demoralise them.